Rotary locking cylinder for a safety lock

ABSTRACT

The rotary locking cylinder comprises a housing ( 5 ) and at least one rotor ( 8 ) provided with a key channel ( 27 ). Tumblers are provided to rotationally release the armature ( 8 ) with a key ( 17 ) associated therewith. A driver ( 6 ) is provided with at least one extension element ( 3 ) on the active part ( 2 ) of the rotary cylinder. Said extension element comprises a housing ( 24 ) and a rotatable insert ( 9 ). At least one extension element ( 3 ) is arranged on an outer side on the active part ( 2 ) at a distance from the driver ( 6 ). The key shank is extended in a manner which corresponds substantially to the length (A) of the extension element ( 3 ). Preferably, the rotatable insert ( 9 ) of the extension element ( 3 ) is profiled.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a rotary locking cylinder for a safety lock,with a housing and at least one armature having a key channel, withtumblers which are provided to rotationally release the armature with anassociated key, with a driver and with at least one extension elementarranged on the active part of the rotary locking cylinder.

PRIOR ART

Rotary locking cylinders of this type are known in general. They can bedouble locking cylinders or single cylinders. Double locking cylinderscan be operated from both sides, whereas single rotary locking cylinderscan be operated from one side only. Such rotary locking cylinders can bemanufactured with a very degree of high locking security and areparticularly suited to the construction of locking units.

To adapt these to different thicknesses of doors and windows, forexample, it is known to extend the active part of the rotary lockingcylinder by adding on extension elements. Here the extension elementsare added in on both sides of the driver and accordingly the active partis moved away from the driver outwardly in both directions.

The active part is that part which is equipped with tumblers. Theextension elements on the other hand have no tumblers and are thus noteffective in locking. The associated keys do not have to be changed whensuch an extension is utilised. The keys thus always have the samelength, independent of the length of the locking cylinder.

OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The inventor has created the task of providing a rotary locking cylinderof the abovementioned type, which shows added improvements in terms ofsafety technology and which can be manufactured cost-effectivelynevertheless.

This task is solved using a rotary locking cylinder of this type by theextension element being attached at a distance from the driver on theoutside on the active part and by the key shank being extendedsubstantially in correspondence with the length of this extensionelement. With known rotary locking cylinders the active part always sitson the grip side after addition of an extension element. By comparison,in the case of the rotary locking cylinder according to the presentinvention in terms of safety technology the active part sits on theprotected side. If an attempt is made to drill through the rotarylocking cylinder for example, then the extension element must be drilledthrough first. To effectively block this the extension element caneasily be designed on the grip side, such that it cannot be drilledthrough. Whenever an attempt is made to twist off or strip the rotarylocking cylinder at the protruding end, essentially only the extensionelement is damaged, and not the active part. Also, if a protruding endis shorn off using a chisel this still does not result in releasing thelock, because in this case also the active part is not affected.

A substantial added advantage of the rotary locking cylinder accordingto the invention is that a unit construction system can be put togetherusing the extension elements. With such a unit construction system theextension elements can be of varying length. Merely because of thedifferent key shanks these can be constructed hierarchically. Therotatable inserts of the extension elements can also be profiled. Thekey shanks of the associated keys can be accordingly profiled. Comparedto known profiling of armatures this means substantial rationalising. Toconstruct a locking unit in the case of the inventive rotary lockingcylinder the profile of the key and the length of the ineffective partof the key can be varied. The number of closings and thus the lockingsecurity can be increased accordingly with comparatively low additionalcosts.

According to another development of the invention the active part of therotary locking cylinder is formed by a short cylinder. This shortcylinder is preferably designed as an installation safety device.

The length of this short cylinder is such that it can be built into alock case as an installation safety device without projecting at thesides. The active part of the rotary locking cylinder now sits protectedin the lock and at least on the grip side can be covered by an extensionelement. If the extension element is manufactured partially or fullyfrom hardened steel, then this gives a very high degree of protectionagainst attack, since the active part is shielded by the extensionelement.

The invention also relates to a unit construction system with severalrotary locking cylinders according to the present invention as well as akey for such a rotary locking cylinder. In the case of a key accordingto the invention there is the advantage that it can be profiled withoutconsiderable expense, making unauthorised copying difficult.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An embodiment of the invention is explained in greater detailhereinbelow with reference to the diagram, in which:

FIG. 1 is a section through a rotary locking cylinder according to thepresent invention,

FIG. 2 is a view of a short cylinder without extension elements,

FIG. 3 is another view of the short cylinder as in FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is a section along line IV-IV,

FIG. 5 is a view of the cylinder according to the present invention,with individual parts in an exploded view,

FIGS. 6 a to 6 d show different keys of an installation andcorresponding extensions in section, as well as corresponding keychannels.

The rotary locking cylinder 1 shown in FIG. 1 is a double rotary lockingcylinder and has an active part 2 as well as an extension element 3 and3′. The active part 2 comprises a housing 5, in which several slides 30for tumbler pins not illustrated here are inserted in a manner known perSe. Mounted in the housing is a driver 6 which can be rotated to actuatethe lock after a rotor 8 is rotationally released. The rotor 8 may be acontinuous rotor, as illustrated, or it can also comprise two rotorcomponents in the usual manner. The rotor 8 is secured axially in thehousing 5 by means of a circlip 31. The extension elements 3 and 31 eachhave a housing 14 or 14′, and can be of different lengths. Machined intoeach housing 14 or 14′ is a bore 12 or 12′, into each of which isinserted a rotatable insert 9 or 9′ from the rear. A radially protrudingcollar 10 of the insert 9 or 9′ is mounted in a corresponding recess 13or 13′ of the rear side 24 or 24′ of the housing 14 or 14′.

Formed on the rear side 24 or 24′ of the housing 14 or 14′ is aprotruding cam 15 or 15′ which engages in a corresponding recess 25 ofthe housing 5, as illustrated in FIG. 1. The cams 15 or 15′ have atransverse bore 16, through which a pin 26 (FIG. 1) is inserted forfastening the housing 14 or 14′ to the housing 5. This pin fastens eachhousing 14 or 14′ to the housing 5. The extension elements 3 or 3′ arethus connected rotatably to the housing components 5.

Machined into each insert 9 or 9′ is a channel 11 or 11′ which isdesigned to take up an extension part 21 of a key 17, with grip 18 andshank 19. This channel 11 or 11′ is continuous and leads to acorresponding channel 27 (FIG. 3) of the rotor 8. The channels 11 arepreferably profiled according to FIGS. 6 a to 6 d and have inwardsprotruding ribs 28 which are designed to correspond to grooves 22 of thekey 17. A key 17 can be inserted fully into the channels 11 or 11′ onlyif the extension part 21 has profiling 22 corresponding to the ribs 28.The profiling 28 can be designed variously, as clearly shown in FIGS. 6a to 6 d. Such different profiling 28 enables a hierarchical structureof many keys 17 to 17′″ of a locking unit, as likewise illustrated inFIGS. 6 a to 6 d.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The extension elements 3 or 3′ each have a specific length A or A′ whichare determined by the distance between the inside 24 and outside 29.This length A or A′ corresponds substantially to the length B of theextension part 21 shown in FIGS. 6 a and 6 d. The lengths A andcorrespondingly the lengths B can be different in a locking unit and aunit construction system, as evident in FIGS. 6 a to 6 d.

FIGS. 6 a to 6 d show only examples of possible profilings of a key 17.The grooves 22 can however be varied with respect to position and depth,as well as cross-section. The expert skilled in the art is aware of amultiplicity of such profilings. Also conceivable is a configuration inwhich the key 17 is not profiled in the extension part 21. The extensionpart 21 can also be varied in cross-section without profiling. Forexample, the part 21 can be of different widths with different keys.Consequently, the channels 11 of the associated rotary locking cylinder1 are of different widths. The grooves 22 can extend also over the shankarea 19 as per FIGS. 6 a to 6 d. The area 19 can thus also be profiled.

FIGS. 6 a to 6 d show keys 17 to 17′″ of a locking unit. These keys 17to 17′″ differ at least in length of the extension part 21. Thesedifferent lengths are designated in FIGS. 6 a to 6 d by B′ to B′″. If arotary locking cylinder now has an extension element 3, in which thelength A is substantially equal to the length B, then this rotarylocking cylinder can be operated using all keys 17 to 17′″. But shouldthe extension element 3 now have length A, corresponding to length B″,then this rotary locking cylinder cannot be operated using the key 17(FIG. 6 a). This rotary locking cylinder can be operated using keys 17′to 17′″.

If another rotary locking cylinder has an extension element 3, in whichthe length A is equal to the length B″′, then this rotary lockingcylinder can be operated only with the key 17′″.

In this way a locking unit can be constructed simply due to thevariation in length B. This locking unit can be expanded further by wayof the abovementioned profiling.

FIG. 1 illustrates a rotary locking cylinder 1, as mentioned, in whichthe active part 2 is preferably a short cylinder.

The length D of this short cylinder 2 is substantially less than that ofstandard double rotary locking cylinders and corresponds substantiallyto the thickness of a customary lock case. The short cylinder 2 or theactive part is extended at both ends in each case by an extensionelement 3 or 3′. The rotor 8 of the active part 2 is preferablycontinuous. In FIG. 1 the key 17 is inserted from the left side of therotary locking cylinder 1 into the former. This key 17 can be used tocoordinate the tumblers, not illustrated here, from the other side also.

The extension elements 9′ to 9″′ can each be combined also from severalshorter elements. These elements have a thickness of 5, 10 or 15 mm forexample and are placed in succession. Using just a few units allows awide variety of lengths to be made up. This effectively simplifies partsstockage and manufacturing costs can be kept low. Because the shortcylinder 2 already guarantees a high degree of locking safety, theextension elements 9′ to 9′″ can be manufactured from a cost-effectivematerial, such as zinc, plastic or brass, for example.

1. A rotary locking cylinder for a safety lock, comprising: a firsthousing; at least one rotor (8) having a key channel (27); a driver (6)engaged around the at least one rotor (8) and having tumblers whichrotationally release the at least one rotor (8) with a corresponding key(17), wherein the rotor (8) and driver (6) are both engaged within thefirst housing (5); wherein the first housing forms an active part (2) ofthe rotary locking cylinder and has a first end and a second end facingaway from the driver (6); a second housing (14) having a rotatableinsert (9) forming a first extension element (3); wherein the firstextension element (3) is fixed on the active part (2) a distance apartfrom the driver (6) on the first end of the active part (2) and a keyshank of the corresponding key is extended substantially correspondingto a length (A) of the first extension element (3); wherein therotatable insert (9) of the first extension element (3) extends out fromthe first end of the rotor (8); and wherein the second housing (14) ofthe first extension element (3) also extends out from the first end ofthe first housing (5).
 2. The rotary locking cylinder as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the rotatable insert (9) of the first extension element(3) is profiled.
 3. The rotary locking cylinder as claimed in claim 2,wherein the rotatable insert (9) of the first extension element (3)and/or the second housing (14) of the first extension element (3) ismanufactured from a hard or cost effective material.
 4. The rotarylocking cylinder as claimed in any one of claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein theactive part (2) is formed by a short cylinder with a continuous rotor(8) which can be operated from both sides.
 5. The rotary lockingcylinder as claimed in claim 3, wherein the hard material is hardenedsteel or a hard metal.
 6. The rotary locking cylinder as claimed inclaim 3, wherein the cost effective material is zinc, plastic or brass.7. The rotary locking cylinder as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotarylocking cylinder is provided at the second end with a second extensionelement (3′).
 8. The rotary locking cylinder as claimed in claim 7,wherein a plurality of the rotary locking cylinders form a unitconstruction system, wherein the length (A) of respective firstextension elements (3) of each of the plurality of rotary lockingcylinders and a corresponding length (B) of each of the correspondingkeys (17) are different.
 9. The rotary locking cylinder as claimed inclaim 8, wherein shanks (19) of each of the corresponding keys (17) havean active part (20) with bores (23) and another part (21) correspondingto the length (A) of the first extension element (3), wherein anotherpart corresponding to the length (A) of the first extension element (3)is arranged between the active part with bores and a key grip.
 10. Therotary locking cylinder as claimed in claim 8 or 9, wherein each of therotatable inserts (9) of the first extension elements (3) are profileddifferently.
 11. The rotary locking cylinder as claimed in claim 8,wherein each of the rotatable inserts (9′) of a second extension element(3′) are of varying length.
 12. The rotary locking cylinder as claimedin claim 1, wherein a shank (19) of the key has a front active part (20)and an extension part (21) between the front active part (20) and a keygrip (18).
 13. The rotary locking cylinder as claimed in claim 12,wherein the extension part (21) is wider than the front active part(20).
 14. The rotary locking cylinder as claimed in claim 12 or 13,wherein the extension part (21) is profiled.
 15. The rotary lockingcylinder as claimed in claim 14, wherein the extension part (21) isprofiled in the longitudinal direction of the shank (19).
 16. The rotarylocking cylinder as claimed in claim 14, wherein the extension part (21)has grooves (22) running in the longitudinal direction of the shank(19).